He doesn’t matter if it’s a recent build if I like it and think that most of you didn’t see it. So, let’s give a push to Satya Kraus for a quite amazing custom job stepping outside of what most builders are designing. Quite a few tricks and fabrication innovations grace this machine. Satya started with a custom frame with a radical 46-degree rake and decided to give the bike a rigid look while fabricating a one-off “invisible” rear roller rocker suspension.

Instead of using shocks under the bike, a small nitrogen gas spring shock is hidden in the top rear section of the frame. Above the 80″ kick only Panhead engine the peanut tank is the 3.5 quart oil reservoir that you could have detected just by noticing the stainless lines exiting it. And of course, the gas tank (only a 2-gallon capacity) is placed where is usually located the oil bag, just under the solo seat.

Mixing parts that never met before on the same motorcycle, the custom Springer front end (triple-tree less neck design) gets its direction via BMX style handlebars. For an absolute clean look, no levers on these bars. Satya Kraus is a fan of twisting with his left hand for clutching, twisting back and forth with his right hand for throttling and braking. You just need to get accustomed to it before hitting heavy traffic… Most of the bike is in industrial looking polished nickel with pearl purple and a few gold stripes to give it some visual life. A successful blend of classic and high tech technology in an unusual motorcycle architecture. Kraus Motor Co.

I believe I remember Satya when he competed on “Build or Bust” on the TV a few years back. Kid had talent then and he continues to push it. I like it a lot. I’d love to try riding this bike no matter how difficult it may appear. Looks “beautifully purposeful”. Way to go Mr. Kraus.

The minimalist look of the bike is outstanding. There is a word for this bike Cyril. It’s A “paraprosdokian”
(from Greek “παρα-“, meaning “beyond” and “προσδοκία”, meaning “expectation”) is a figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected in a way that causes the reader or listener to re-frame or reinterpret the first part. (Definition from Wakipedia)

I agree with the statement as being unrideable as it sits. With that being said,it wouldn’t take much to make it into a everyday around town bike. I believe in building a bike that has both form and function. i can appreciate the mechanicalness of this bike. Would I pay to have something like this built? No, but I appreciate it for what it is.

The car builders/customizers back in the day like George Barris or Ed “Big Daddy” Roth set trends and took us to some great places with their wild creations. Builders like Satya Kraus do the same in the motorcycle world by creating bikes ahead of the curve.

To all doubters: The bike has front and back suspension, is balanced 50/50, the sitting position is upright, like on a dual sport, It does have a hand shifter, so that might challenge some of you, and it is also kick start only, further challenging some more of you. Girls have a hard time riding it, but we ride it just fine, and it handles well.
And no, the left foot does not get burned, gases escape fast and the counter-effect of opposed pipes, rotates them out of the way, just an extra bit of engineering…

I shot this bike and others built by Satya over the years for magazines around the globe, all of my photo shoots of his bikes have riding shots, not only does this bike handle, Satya is one of only a few bikers whose bikes that I have photographed who really knows how to ride. Check out the cover of Biker Zone (Spain) myspace.com/stevekellyphotos if you don’t believe me. Satya is one of the most thoughtful engineers I’ve ever met, and his rides are always a refreshing reminder that we have not seen it all yet!